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“I have never loved a woman as much as I do you, Candy Hoffman. You’re stubborn, beautiful and about the most obstinate woman I’ve ever known. I made a mistake earlier, and I don’t intend to repeat it.”
Stunned, she stared at him.
“Will you marry me?” he asked softly, his love shining through his eyes.
Candy’s hand shook as she reached for the water glass. She managed to down half of it before she could speak. Even then she found the words wouldn’t make it past the huge lump in her throat.
“I love our baby, too, in case you have any doubt. I can’t help thinking he’s going to be hell on wheels.”
Candy started to laugh and cry at the same time. She wrapped her arms around Carl’s neck and buried her face in his shoulder. He loved her. He honestly loved her.
Carl kissed the side of her face. “I take it that was a yes. If not, it’s too bad. I’m not taking no for an answer this time.”
With his arms wrapped around her waist, he stood and twirled around.
Candy threw back her head and laughed with joy. This had to be the happiest day of her life.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“HELLO, BOY.”LESLEYcarefully approached Zane’s gelding, Arabesque. The Arabian’s sleek black neck appeared over the stall door, anticipating a treat. He tossed his mane and snorted when she hid an apple behind her back, telling her he was well aware of her games.
“Something tells me I’ve spoiled you,” she teased, holding out the apple in the palm of her hand. Like her, Arabesque missed Zane. His temper had been fierce in the first weeks after Zane’s death, almost as if he were aware of what had happened to his master.
Even now, after months of building a friendship, the exquisite Arabian barely tolerated Lesley’s presence and only then because she brought him a treat.
Even Eddie and Dennis hadn’t made much progress with Arabesque. Lady Jane, the filly, patiently stood still and allowed the two boys to groom her, but not Arabesque.
“You miss him, don’t you, boy?” Lesley asked as she stroked the gelding’s long, smooth neck. Arabesque nudged her shoulder and bobbed his head.
“Me, too,” she whispered brokenly. She didn’t know what was wrong with her lately. Perhaps it was the pregnancy that made her so weepy of late. Or the news of Candy and Carl’s engagement. The two had set their wedding for New Year’s Eve and Candy had asked that Lesley stand up as her maid of honor. She was both honored and delighted.
Lesley certainly didn’t begrudge the couple their happiness, but their joy seemed to magnify her loneliness, her loss, and her unhappiness.
The baby stirred, and without thinking, Lesley pressed her palm against her stomach, wondering at the sudden movement.
Arabesque jerked his head in an upward motion and whinnied loudly.
The softest of sounds drifted to her from the barn door. A ready smile touched her lips as she turned to greet the newcomer.
It was then that she saw Zane.
Her breath stopped and her heart quickened as she struggled to mentally deal with what her eyes were telling her.
It wasn’t him. The man who stood just inside the shadow-filled barn bore no scars. He was devoid of the ugly, red marks that scored her dead husband’s face. This man was thin. Terribly, terribly thin.
It was Zane. It had to be.
She must be dreaming, Lesley decided. Missing Zane as much as she did, her fertile mind had conjured up his image. But if this was a dream, Lesley never wanted to wake.
Neither spoke, but then Lesley wondered if words were possible between them. Although he seemed solid and real, it wouldn’t have surprised her had he vanished.
He took two steps toward her. The limp was there, and each measured footfall appeared to bring him pain. Still, he kept his gaze trained on her as if making the pain-filled trek to her was his goal. The love in his eyes all but blinded her.
“Zane,” she said in a soft, almost voiceless breath, afraid if she spoke he’d disappear, afraid words would drive him away. Slowly, her fingers trembling, she reached out and touched his cheek with the lightest of contact. His skin was warm and soft and his eyes drifted closed as if he had waited his entire life for this moment. As if her gentle touch had broken an evil spell that held him prisoner.
“Zane?” she repeated again.
He captured her hand and held it firmly against his face.
